Aker Yards to Build a Second Cruise Ship for Color Line

Aker Yards and Color Line have signed a contract to build a sister vessel to MS Color Fantasy, the worlds largest cruise ship with car deck, that was delivered in December 2004. The agreement includes a buyers option to purchase a third vessel. The new vessel will be named MS Color Magic, and will traffic the route Oslo - Kiel as from the fourth quarter 2007. The contract value is EUR 325 million. MS Color Magic will be Color Lines second cruise ship with a car deck, and will have a wide variety of entertainment and conference areas. The number of cabins will be higher than on Color Fantasy. The vessel will be 223.7 meters long and 35 meters wide. MS Color Magic will be built partly at the yard in Turku, and partly at the yard in Rauma. Delivery will take place in Rauma in the fourth quarer of 2007. "We are very pleased that Color Line places the order of a sister vessel of MS Color Fantasy with Aker Yards. We regard this as a proof of the excellent cooperation and strong relationship between our two companies. Synergies realized in the merger of our three Finnish shipyards were a significant prerequisite for this contract." says Karl Erik Kjelstad - President & CEO of Aker Yards ASA.